Chronic endogenous hypercholecystokininemia promotes pancreatic carcinogenesis in the hamster

In order to examine the effect of cholecystokinin on spontaneous and induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in the hamster, two sets of experiments were carried out, one involving long-term hypercholecystokininemia and one involving cancer induction during hypercholecystokininemia. The effect of hypercholecystokininemia, induced by pancreaticobiliary diversion (PBD), was studied for 8 months. Neither PBD animals nor sham-operated controls developed premalignant or malignant pancreatic lesions. However, in the PBD group the mean pancreatic weight, total protein content and DNA content were increased by 30, 29 and 27% respectively. No such increases were found in PBD animals receiving a cholecystokinin-A receptor antagonist during the last 24 days of the experiment. In the cancer induction study, the effect of PBD on N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine-induced pancreatic carcinogenesis was studied for 3 months. Putative premalignant pancreatic lesions were diagnosed in all PBD hamsters and in four of 15 sham-operated controls. Pancreatic ductular carcinoma in situ was only found in PBD animals. The [3H]thymidine labeling index of the pancreatic lesions was significantly higher in the PBD group than in the controls. No such increase was observed in PBD animals receiving a cholecystokinin-A receptor antagonist during the last 5 days of the experiment. It is concluded that chronic endogenous hypercholecystokininemia promotes early phase pancreatic carcinogenesis, but does not per se cause development of premalignant or malignant pancreatic lesions in the hamster.      

Trends in the health burden due to urinary tract infection in children in Australia

Objective: To estimate the health burden of urinary tract infection in children less than 15 years of age in Australia and to ascertain whether any significant change has occurred during the past decade. Methodology: The number of children less than 15 years of age who were admitted in New South Wales for urinary tract infection between 1981 and 1994 was ascertained from the Department of Health, and age and sex specific incidence rates were calculated using Australian Bureau of Statistics population data. Costs for inpatient care were calculated using the cost weights from Australia National Disease Related Groups Version 3 for urinary tract infection (DRG 577). The frequency of the four most commonly requested renal tract imaging procedures in children following urinary tract infection and which qualified for Medicare reimbursement were obtained from the Health Insurance Commission for 1984–1994: micturating cystourethrography, intravenous urography, renal ultrasonography, and nuclear medicine renal studies. Results: There were 1203 children who were admitted with urinary tract infection in New South Wales in 1994, at an estimated cost of $A1.6 million. Since 1981, the age standardized annual incidence of urinary tract infection requiring hospitalization has increased from 0.5 to 0.9 per 1000 children, largely because of an increase in the number of young children admitted (from 0.6 to 2.0 per 1000 children less than 5 years of age). In 1994, 46 230 non-inpatient renal imaging procedures were undertaken in children under 15 years of age at a cost of $A5.3 million. Conclusions: Urinary tract infection is an important and increasing health problem for Australian children, particularly for preschool children. Whether this represents a true increase in the incidence of urinary tract infection or improved diagnosis and more intensive management is not possible to establish with this study design. Prospective population based studies are required to assess more completely the frequency with which urinary tract infection occurs in children and any changes that may be occurring.     

Raising Awareness for Lung Cancer Prevention and Healthy Lifestyles in Female Scholars from a Low-Income Area in Bogota,Colombia: Evaluation of a National Framework

This study aims to determine the effects of an educational intervention, based on the Colombian guidelines for educational communication in the framework of cancer control, for raising lung cancer prevention-related awareness, and improving healthy lifestyles in female scholars from a low-income area in Bogota, Colombia. Uncontrolled trial conducted in 243 female scholars (mean age 14 years ± 1.5 SD). Two 90 min educational sessions were carried out in March 2015 according to the Colombian guidelines for educational communication in the framework of cancer control. Posters and other educational materials were created by scholars after the intervention. All participants completed a self-reported questionnaire—The Cancer Awareness Measure—at pre and post-intervention, as well as 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention. Smoking prevalence (8.2% at baseline) was reduced by 3.7% at 6 months follow-up (p < 0.005). The scholars exhibited low to moderate awareness of both warning signs and risk factors for lung cancer at baseline. These variables showed statistically significant improvements at 6 months follow-up (p < 0.005). Similar improvements were also found for physical activity, high-fat diet, and fruits and vegetable intake. This evaluation of the Colombian guidelines for educational communication in the framework of cancer control raised awareness towards lung cancer prevention, reduced smoking, and improved other healthy-lifestyle-related factors in a group of female scholars from a low-income area in Bogota, Colombia. Further randomized controlled studies are needed.     

Anomalous origin of the brachiocephalic vessels with right aortic arch and contralateral subclavian steal syndrome

Summary Anomalies of origin of the brachiocephalic vessels are uncommon. The authors report a new case of such an abnormality revealed by a subclavian steal syndrome. The angiographic study showed a right aortic arch with hypoplasia of the origin of the left subclavian a., which arose from the descending aorta, and a collateral cervical circulation derived from the left vertebral a. and the right subclavian a.

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Anomalies d'origine des vaisseaux cervicaux à destinée encéphalique avec dextro-position de l'arc aortique et syndrome subclavier controlatéral

Résumé Les auteurs rapportent le cas d'une jeune femme ayant une symptomatologie évoquant un syndrome subclavier. Les différents examens vasculaires (Doppler, angiographie) ont montrés une anomalie d'origine des vaisseaux cervicaux à destinée encéphalique avec un arc aortique à droite par rapport à la trachée, une hypoplasie du segment proximal de l'a. subclavière gauche qui nait de l'aorte thoracique descendante et prise en charge du segment artériel distal par une circulation collatérale cervicale développée à partir des branches musculaires issues de l'a. vertébrale.

     

Rachitic respiratory distress in small preterm infants

A syndrome of subacute respiratory distress, severe metabolic bone disease affecting the thoracic cage, and mild cholestasis occurred in 4 small preterm infants during the first three months of life and was associated with considerable morbidity. The early radiological features in the chest resembled thos of the Mikity-Wilson syndrome, with which the disorder may be confused. After spontaneous improvement in hepatic function 3 of the infants fully recovered. The fourth died of paralytic ileus. Various nutritional and absorptive abnormalities probably contribute to the pathogenesis of the bone disorder in this syndrome. The best prophylaxis might be to supplement the diet with 25-hydroxyvitamin D rather than native vitamin D.     

Controlled trial of azathioprine in treatment of steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome of childhood

A controlled trial of azathioprine treatment of steroid-responsive frequent-relapsing nephrotic syndrome of childhood failed to show a therapeutic effect on the stability of remission after withdrawal of corticosteroid treatment.